50+ Best Hannukkah Trivia Questions & Answers

Question: What is Hanukkah commonly known as?

Answer: The festival of lights

Question: What does Hanukkah commemorate?

Answer: The Maccabean revolt against the Syrian-Greek army

Question: How many nights does Hanukkah last?

Answer: 8 nights

Question: What does the word "Hanukkah" mean?

Answer: Dedication

Question: What is Hanukkah celebration about?

Answer: The triumph of the Maccabees in reclaiming their temple after it was desecrated by Syrian-Greeks.

Question: What is the most common spelling of Hanukkah?

Answer: Hanukkah

Question: Who was the Maccabean revolt against?

Answer: The Syrian-Greek army

Question: What is the most well-known tradition of Hanukkah?

Answer: Lighting of the menorah

Question: What is the significance of the center candle in the menorah?

Answer: It is used to light all the other candles

Question: How many candles are in a menorah?

Answer: 9 candles

Question: What is the significance of lighting one candle each day of Hanukkah?

Answer: To celebrate each day of the holiday

Question: In what country is Hanukkah a national holiday?

Answer: Israel

Question: What is the significance of the darkest time of the year during Hanukkah?

Answer: To celebrate the return of light

Question: How does Rabbi Leonard Gordon describe Hanukkah?

Answer: A frightening celebration

Question: How many nights did the miracle oil burn for?

Answer: Eight nights

Question: What activities do students participate in during Hanukkah in contemporary Israel?

Answer: Plays, songs, parties

Question: From where does the relay begin during Hanukkah in contemporary Israel?

Answer: Modiʿin

Question: Where is the menorah usually placed during Hanukkah?

Answer: In a window or a doorway

Question: What is the significance of the lighting of the menorah during Hanukkah?

Answer: A symbol of hope and light during the darkest time

Question: What is the significance of the shamash in the menorah?

Answer: The center candle that sits higher than the others

Question: What material is typically used to make the dreidel, a spinning top played with during Hanukkah?

Answer: Wood

Question: Who were the Maccabees?

Answer: Jewish rebels

Question: Who did the Maccabees defeat to reclaim the holy temple in Jerusalem?

Answer: Egyptian slaves

Question: What metal is traditionally used to make the menorah used during Hanukkah?

Answer: Brass

Question: What type of oil is used to light the candles in the menorah during Hanukkah?

Answer: Olive Oil

Question: Why is food fried during Hanukkah?

Answer: As a symbol of the miracle oil that burned for eight nights

Question: What does the miracle oil symbolize in Hanukkah?

Answer: The oil that burned for eight nights

Question: What is the significance of the holy temple in Jerusalem in the Hanukkah story?

Answer: It was defiled by the Syrian-Greeks and reclaimed by the Maccabees

Question: According to tradition, what will be followed when Moshiach comes regarding the lighting of the menorah on Hanukkah? The rulings of the House of Shammai

Answer: The placement of the menorah outside, on the left side of the door

Question: Why do Jews play the dreidel game during Hanukkah?

Answer: For fun

Question: What custom is commonly followed (outside of Israel) regarding the placement of the menorah during Hanukkah?

Answer: Light the menorah at a window

Question: How is the dreidel related to Hanukkah?

Answer: Based on a German gambling game, European Jews adopted it and replaced the letters with Hebrew ones to engage with scripture. Now it is used throughout the holiday.

Question: Where did the dreidel originally come from?

Answer: Germany and England

Question: What letters are on the sides of the dreidel?

Answer: Hebrew

Question: What type of food is traditionally fried during Hanukkah?

Answer: Any type of food

Question: What does the chief rabbi use the torch for during Hanukkah in contemporary Israel?

Answer: To light the first candle of a giant menorah

Question: What is the highlight of the Hanukkah festival in contemporary Israel?

Answer: The annual relay from Modiʿin to Jerusalem

Question: What is the origin of the annual relay during Hanukkah in contemporary Israel?

Answer: Contemporary Israel

Question: Why was the menorah placed to the left of the door?

Answer: Because the mezuzah is placed on the right side

Question: Who taught to add another candle each night of Hanukkah?

Answer: The traditional custom of lighting at a window

Question: 12. Why do some communities prefer to light the menorah in a doorway rather than a windowsill during Hanukkah?

Answer: To surround themselves with the mitzvahs of mezuzah and the menorah, just as in ancient times

Question: Who maintained that eight lights be lit on the first night of Hanukkah?

Answer: The House of Shammai

Question: What was the main reason for the menorah being moved from its original placement during Mishnaic times?

Answer: The harsh realities of the diaspora

Question: What is the significance of the mezuzah and the menorah being placed on either side of the doorway during Hanukkah?

Answer: To surround a person with holiness

Question: How did the mezuzah and the menorah surround a person with holiness in ancient times?

Answer: By placing the mezuzah on one side and the menorah on the other side of the doorway

Question: Where are menorahs displayed during Hanukkah in contemporary Israel?

Answer: On prominent buildings such as the Knesset

Question: What is the significance of the Western Wall in the Hanukkah story?

Answer: It is the last remnant of the Temple

Question: Who hands the torch to the chief rabbi during the relay in contemporary Israel?

Answer: The final torchbearer

Question: What is the destination of the relay during Hanukkah in contemporary Israel?

Answer: The Western Wall in Jerusalem

Question: What was the original placement of the menorah during Mishnaic times?

Answer: Outside, on the left side of the door leading in from the street